First Mexican blueberries leave for China with Berries Paradise
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At the end of May the Mexican industry received the inspectors of AQSIQ in the blueberry fields and packings to certify that everything was in order to begin exporting. Yesterday, the company Berries Paradise, made its first air shipments to Shanghai.
With the season of Mexican blueberries almost coming to an end, the company Berries Paradise will take advantage of its last volumes of blueberries to test its behavior in the new Asian market, which approved the protocol at the end of the 2016 for the productions of the states of Michoacán and Jalisco
The blueberries left from Guadalajara to Shanghai and are expected to arrive on Friday.
In Portalfruticola.com we spoke with Carlos Madariaga, sales manager of Berries Paradise, who commented that this first air shipment will be bounded, with the shipment of 2 pallets corresponding to 210 boxes, and it is expected to send a total of 35.000 to 40.000 boxes in the What's left of the season
"This is an experimental shipment to know what we will find next season. We have the reference with what we have done with the raspberries and blackberries in China, however, as this is the first experience in blueberries, the inspections are quite rigorous and demanding on the part of China, and that limits us a little at the moment".
Madariaga noted that Berries Paradise and the other companies certified for export to China have the volume capacity to make maritime containers, but there is an issue with the varieties that could be an impediment.
"The largest variety produced in Mexico is Biloxi, which is not one of the favorites of consumers in China, its flavor does not completely please the Chinese and that reduces the possibilities of producers. I think that other varieties that may have the size and sweetness that that market expects will have better acceptance, but they are for a more premium market.".
The representative of Berries Paradise says that for this reason the company decided to try the Sofia variety in these first shipments, as it is a very sweet variety and sizes between 17 to 22 mm, which are the taste of Chinese consumers.
"This variety developed by the Fall Creek breeding program is exclusive to Berries Paradise. I think we have the perfect variety to make a good first season in China, because it meets all the requirements of what the market demands".
"With these small shipments we want to make sure that the variety we're betting on - and that we think is the right one for the market - really is. If everything arrives in the optimal conditions and are liked by customers, then we can project much better for the next season".
"We want to make visible that the Mexican blueberry is already available, that it is of excellent quality and can compete as equals with the Peruvian and Chilean blueberries ".
From Fall Creek, Rep. Cort Brazelton described the event as a milestone and offered his congratulations to the company and the representatives of the Mexican industry for their efforts in opening the Chinese market.
"As a member of the blueberry industry of Mexico, we are delighted that Mexico can establish this supply relationship with China and congratulate [the industry association] Aneberries for the hard work done on behalf of the industry, the world and China"Said Brazelton.
Competition with local production
Currently, China is experiencing the peak of domestic cranberry production, so for Mexico it is convenient to enter with more premium varieties and larger sizes. However, Madariaga says that if demand rises, they would be able to supply the market with smaller calibers.
"There is a small price differentiation considering the sizes of blueberries" Madariaga adds that besides being the first shipment, importers want to see what the variety is, the quality and how it behaves.
"We believe that the Mexican cranberry is of very good quality and we believe that it can be priced much better than blueberries from other origins, and even local".
The only additional difficulty that Mexico has against origins such as Chile is that there is a tariff barrier of an 25% for Mexican products, whereas Chile, thanks to its FTA, does not have to pay taxes.
"A big challenge for the industry is this tariff of 25%, which can be a commercial disadvantage, but we believe that if we go with a good product we can have a positive result".
The blueberry season of Mexico begins at the end of August until the end of July. However, Madariaga says that the production peak occurs between January and April, generating a very good commercial window between what ends the Chilean season and the local harvest begins (between April and May approximately).
Madariaga anticipates that the company will be present in Asia Fruit Logistica in September, in the Mexican pavilion organized by Proméxico and the Agency of Services for the Marketing and Development of Agricultural Markets, Aserca, where they will show the product, quality and varieties of blueberries available in this fair.
Source: Portal Fruticola
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